HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Chroma ® Chloe golosh plant . photograph by : Proven winner
If you ’re quondam enough to remember the song " High hope , " first popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1959 , the chorus “ Oops , there blend in another safe Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree industrial plant ” is certain to fare to listen , humorously key out an ant ’s decision to move a large rubber tree all by himself .
With their braggart , bold leaves and telling height , rubber plants ( Ficus elastica ) are as democratic today as they were back in the 1950s . But now houseplant lovers have a much wider raiment of gum elastic tree varieties to choose from , including compact versions pure for desks and tabletop and striking cultivar with multicolored foliage .
Native to tropic part of Southeast Asia , Ficushave adapted well to indoor environments and will fly high with minimal care as long as you give them plenty of bright light and logical wet . Not only are they great plant for tally a tropic vibe to an indoor outer space , they are also super - effective air purifier , using their large leaves to filter out harmful pollutant .
On this varlet : Basics|Growing Tips|Care|Varieties|Common Problems|FAQs
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Ficus elastica
Common names:
Rubber flora , India rubber plant , rubber tree , rubber fig
Light requirements:
Medium to shining illumination
Growth rate:
Fast
Size:
In their native tropic home ground , Ficuscan reach heights of 50 feet or more . But do n’t vex ; as houseplant , they seldom grow taller than 10 feet .
Foliage:
Glossy ellipse - shaped leave , rank in size from 5 to over 12 inches long , may be dark green , burgundy , or variegated . Some varieties mutant sheathes and midrib in contrasting colors .
Are rubber plants toxic?
Ficusleaves and stems release a milky latex tomfool that is toxic when ingested , so keep out of reach of tike and pets . Exposure to the sap may also cause cutis irritation in sensitive people . See moreCommon toxicant Plants for Dogs and Cats .
GROWING RUBBER PLANTS
Where to grow:
Be sure to place yourFicusin a brightly light location , such as near an east- or west - facing window or several feet back from a south - face windowpane . variegate varieties will gain from a few hours of direct Sunday , which will bring out the best foliage color .
Temperature and humidity:
Like its close relative thefiddle - foliage Ficus carica , caoutchouc plant loves a warm and humid environment , with temperatures ranging from 60 ° to 85 ° F and humidness stage of 40 % or higher . Avoid exposing plants to cold drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations . ( See morehouseplants that like humidity . )
Soil type:
Use a well - draining potting mix with some perlite or orchid bark added to meliorate drainage and aeration .
Pot requirements:
flora in a weed about 1 to 2 column inch wide than the rootball , with drain jam to help preclude root buncombe . To prevent topple , acquire with child prophylactic trees in a heavy container , or nest a formative container with drain hole inside a sturdy one made of clay or ceramic .
Can you grow rubber plant outdoors?
If you survive in zone 10 - 12 , you’re able to growFicus elasticaoutdoors class - round in a shady location with filtrate sunshine . Keep in judgment that they can produce 20 to 30 feet marvellous outdoors and may need regular pruning to keep it compact .
In colder climates , you may move your indoor synthetic rubber tree outdoors in summertime once the temperature warm up , making certain to keep it out of direct sunlight . ( rate the quite a little on a wheeled caddy will set aside you to move it more easily . ) Bring your plant back indoors in autumn when the temperature dip below 50 ° F.
Chroma ® Tineke gum elastic plant , alocasia , and arrowhead plant . Photo by : Proven Winners
RUBBER PLANT CARE
Watering:
Ficusare very particular about their wet needs and should not be overwatered . Allow the top 2 to 3 column inch of soil to dry out between each watering to avoid oversaturation . In winter , when plant development slows , let the dirt go a spot drier . Never countenance your rubber Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to sit in stand up water system .
Fertilizing:
Feed once a calendar month while your works is actively grow with a liquid houseplant fertiliser reduce to half - strength . you’re able to also add someworm castingsto the ground to give your plant a nutritional boost .
Pruning:
If your synthetic rubber plant life is threaten to outgrow its blank , you could keep it in tick by pruning the central fore back to a folio node , which will encourage the ontogenesis of side branches . You should also trim down off any utter or discredited leaves to keep your works look its good and discourage the developing of disease . Be sure to don glove and tenacious sleeves when manage your works so you do n’t get the milky sap on your skin .
Leaf care:
To keep the foliage nice and shiny , pass over it with a damp cloth or parazoan as needed to slay rubble buildup . Keeping your flora dust - free is good for its wellness , too , because the foliage will be able to photosynthesize more efficiently . annul using leaf radiance sprays , which can choke the pores ( or stomata ) .
Repotting:
Rubber works can shoot up tight under the right conditions and will usually need repotting every 2 or 3 years , or whenever you see the root begin to raise out of the pot ’s drain cakehole . The just time to repot is in spring , when your plant emerge from semi - quiescency .
Choose a Modern container 2 inches larger than the current one and fill it partway with clean potting mix . localise the top of the plant ’s rootball about an inch below the flange and fill in around it with more soil . If your rubber plant has become too unwieldy for repotting , top dress it rather by scooping out the top 2 to 3 inches of soil and replacing it with tonic potting intermixture .
summit : If you recently purchased your gumshoe plant , avoid repotting it for several months to give it time to aline to its surroundings . Ficus plants do n’t like change and too much stress can get the leaves to dribble .
Propagation:
The easiest method acting of multiplication is by stem cutting , taken in early spring . Another technique you could try is air layering , which involves rooting a works stem while it ’s still attached to the parent plant life . ( * See note below on propagating patent plants ( check your plant shred for ® or ™ symbols next to the industrial plant name ) .
Pests and diseases:
Be on the lookout out forcommon houseplant pests , such as aphid , mealybugs , wanderer mites , thrips , and exfoliation insect . galosh flora can also suffer from fungous infections , especially root decomposition and foliage spot .
RUBBER PLANT VARIETIES
picture by : Proven Winners
Chroma ® Abidjan — Buy now from Proven WinnersFicus elastica
Chroma ® Abidjan boast mysterious , nearly fateful leave with red accents on new growth . It thrives in bright light , prefers to dry out between waterings , and grows salutary at 60 - 85 ° F . Regularly dust leaves and prune for a replete shape .
maturate height:4 to 10 foot
More Info & detect a Local leafjoy ® retail merchant
Chroma ® Belize — bribe now from Proven WinnersFicus elastica
A beautiful variegated cultivar , with leathery green leaves even with cream and pinko . Like other variegatedFicus elastica , this plant needs ample sun for the best color intensity .
Chroma ® Chloe — Buy now from Proven WinnersFicus elastica
characteristic huge , lustrous Olea europaea - green leaves with contrasting pink sheathes on the emerging leafage . The full leave will tend to collect dust , so clean them often by wipe with a damp sponge .
Chroma ® TinekeFicus elastica
Glossy green leave with splashes of creamy scandalmongering are accented by prominent pinkish midribs . A great financial statement piece for tabletop and narrow spaces .
Chroma ® Ghost Rider ™ Ficus elastica
The variegated foliage of this uniqueFicus elasticaare splosh in diverge wraith of green , with a ghostly overlay of creamy white . cerise - orange leaf petioles tally a transcendent lambency . To fully reveal the beautiful coloration , produce this flora in vivid Inner Light .
pic by : MaLija / Shutterstock
' Ruby’Ficus elastica’Ruby '
A striking variegatedFicus elasticawith leaves that change coloring material as they ripen , starting off a rich ruby reddish and bit by bit mellowing to dark green with streaks of creamy white and light pink .
Mature height:6 to 8 fundament
Photo by : AngieYeoh / Shutterstock
' Burgundy’Ficus elastica’Burgundy '
Also know as ‘ Black Prince , ’ this boldFicusdazzles with glossy leave-taking that emerge crimson and then grow a cryptic shade of green that appears almost black . Bright scarlet sheathes and midvein create a spectacular line with the dark foliage .
maturate height:10 invertebrate foot
Photo by : Mouse Family / Shutterstock
' Robusta’Ficus elastica’Robusta '
This modern whirl on the classic rubber plant amps up the wow - factor with extra - large emerald green leaves measure up to 18 inch long . Will boom in various light-headed condition , but choose brilliant , collateral light .
senesce height:8 to 10 foot
TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON PROBLEMS: RUBBER PLANTS
Even with the honorable care , a rubber plant may occasionally show signs of hurt when it ’s unhappy in its environment . Most problems are easy to repair if you act early to preclude further scathe . Here are the most common problem to observe out for and some possible solutions .
- REGARDING generation : When it comes to propagating patented industrial plant , there are strict rules in station prohibit reproductive memory or generation of these plant life in any way . This means you ca n’t regurgitate them ( even for use in your own garden ) , trade them , or bring in them into the land without permission . The law does not make exceptions for what some might consider nonaged infringements . Any unauthorized use of patent plants is deliberate an infringement .
